Mandatory changes for generation owners

DO YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT OWN GENERATION LIKE SOLAR AND WIND TURBINES?

If you've installed generation for commercial customers or clients such as schools, hospitals, businesses or farms? If that installation is larger than domestic solar and the owner is looking to generate energy for their own use or to export power back to the grid, you need to contact them about mandatory changes they need to make to their equipment.

The changes impact owners and operators of generation:

• between approximately 11kW and 50MW;¹
• installed before February 2018 and;
• connected in accordance with ERECG59 of the Distribution Code.

If you believe your customers might be in scope, then you should inform them of the new requirements. The changes are not optional, and generators must be compliant by 1 September 2022 or they could face enforcement action which may result in the de-energisation of the generation site.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES?

The changes impact the Loss of Mains protection settings, which protect both the generator and the electricity network from potential faults. By updating the protection settings to align with the new regulations, generator owners will benefit from:

• more reliable generation equipment;
• more consistent generation that is less likely to trip off; and
• potential for more revenue because of fewer interruptions.

Most importantly, these changes, will make the power network more resilient and reliable.

Some generation owners may think that they are not in scope because they have not heard directly from their DNOs about the changes. This is not the case and even if your customers have not heard from either us, or another DNO, they must check their equipment in case they need to take action. 

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

There is a website with information that can help your customers find out if they are impacted. It also offers advice about how to check equipment and declare compliance once the changes are complete.

The website contains a self-serve tool where users can enter details about their electricity generators. The tool will let them know if they need to take an action, and what their next steps should be.

Visit futureproofyourpower.co.uk to find out more.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

If you believe that any of your customers may be impacted by the new regulations, please get in touch with them as soon as possible to let them know about the changes and ask them to visit futureproofyourpower.co.uk.

You can also help to spread the word by letting other installers and contractors know about these changes. We want to ensure that everyone who is required to can make the changes before the fast-approaching compliance deadlines. Please let your customers know so that the can future proof their power. 

¹For single phase generators this may apply to anything between 3.68kW and 50MW capacity.